Why visit Capel Curig?
Mountain adventures
If you’re heading to the Snowdonia National Park with a plan to climb a mountain or few, there are few finer spots to pick than Capel Curig. This small village is in something of an ideal spot within easy reach of Tryfan, Crib Goch, the Glyderau and the Carneddau, so there are plenty of uphill challenges to pick from. You’ll need to be a seasoned mountain explorer to take on any of those, but there are easier options around too like the ascent of Snowdon, about 15 minutes’ drive away.
Hub for activities
Even if you’re not planning to scramble up mountains, Snowdonia is packed with outdoor activities – and Capel Curig makes a great base for many of them. Walkers can ramble along routes from the village or easily drive to nearby Beddgelert and Betws-y-Coed, while those in search of more high-octane thrills can head to Plas y Brenin for climbing, whitewater kayaking and guided mountain bike outings.
Easy driving
One of the key selling points of Capel Curig is its handy location at the meeting point of the A5 and the A4086, which makes it easy to get out and about around Snowdonia for your days of exploring – and, crucially, straightforward to get back to base when it’s time to put your feet up at the end of the day.
Essential things to do around Capel Curig
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Follow the five-mile trail to Betws-y-Coed via Swallow Falls
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Ride a forest coaster or try Europe’s highest swing at Zip World Fforest
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Go surfing several miles from the coast on the inland lake at Adventure Parc Snowdonia
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Learn new outdoor skills with taster days in climbing and watersports
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Climb Snowdon, using one of several passes to reach the top, or ride the mountain railway from Llanberis
Unexplored Capel Curig
Village of the past
Several of Snowdonia’s old slate mines and quarries have found new life as adventure parks and museums, but others have simply been left to their own fate. One of those villages is Rhiwddolion, about 10 minutes’ drive from Capel Curig, and it’s a very atmospheric place for a walk among the abandoned cottages and the greenery that’s slowly taking over. The route from Pont-y-Pair Bridge is relatively easy but will take about four hours to complete.
Seat of learning
Take a trip to Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, about 20 minutes’ drive away, and it might be hard to believe that this quiet little spot is the site of a real turning point in Welsh history. It’s here that you can learn all about the life of Bishop William Morgan, the person responsible for the first Welsh translation of the Bible – it’s claimed to be the most important Welsh book ever published, and a catalyst for Wales having an incredibly high level of literacy for the era. The National Trust-owned estate is well worth a visit, for the green views as much as the historic significance.
Car-free walks
If you fancy a mountain trail without having to get in the car, make tracks to Moel Siabod – you can walk the 10-kilometre route up to the 872-metre peak directly from the village centre. Head the other way and the lakes of Llyn Geirionydd and Llyn Crafnant beckon, the latter with a café where you can refuel en route. Whichever you choose, it’s a treat to be able to leave the car behind for the day when you’re heading out for a hike.
Here’s how
Your outdoor time doesn’t have to come to an end when you’re done with activities for the day – staying at a Capel Curig campsite means you can continue to soak up that gorgeous Snowdonia scenery right through till bedtime.
Our range of campsites around Capel Curig has everything from simple, cheap camping pitches to smart glamping sites where you can pamper yourselves at the end of a long hike. The tick box filters will help you find the style and features that suit you – or you can click the links below to browse popular collections.
Snowdonia is one of the three national parks in Wales, so once you’ve had a good explore of its many attractions how about checking out the others? Pitchup has plenty of places to stay in both the Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park too...
And of course Wales is full of fabulous places to visit, from castles to coastal resorts – check out our camping guides for North Wales, West Wales and Mid Wales for more inspiration, then browse our full list of Wales campsites to find somewhere to stay.
